From convenience stores to hotels and restaurants across Texas, Yumi Ice Cream (Yumi) supplies an extensive range of ice cream, frozen foods, baked goods, and beverages. Today, the company is the state’s exclusive distributor for Dreyer’s, Ben & Jerry’s, Blue Bunny, Häagen Dazs, Magnum, Mars, Nestle, and other nationally recognized brands. Yumi also operates a thriving special events division, delivering ice cream push carts for corporate promotions, festivals, and private celebrations.
President Hoss Rafaty reflects on the company’s four decade journey from a single neighborhood ice cream truck to one of the most influential Direct to Store Delivery (DSD) distributors in the United States.
From Irving streets to statewide reach
“Yumi was founded in 1986 in Irving, Texas, initially supplying mobile ice cream trucks serving local neighborhoods,” Hoss explains.
In 1989, the company seized an opportunity to acquire a Fort Worth operation, formerly a branch of Delight Wholesale, instantly inheriting a base of seventy convenience stores. Yumi grew that base steadily, and in 1992 acquired a former Häagen Dazs location, expanding its DSD footprint.
1996 was the breakthrough year that transformed Yumi from a regional distributor into a major player by partnering with one of the world’s largest food companies. Nestlé decided to change the way it made its ice cream products. Instead of having several different local dairies produce products, which led to inconsistent quality, it centralized manufacturing and looked for reliable distributors across the country. Nestlé elevated Yumi’s business and granted Yumi the exclusive right to distribute Nestlé ice cream products throughout Dallas–Fort Worth. This partnership gave a huge advantage in the marketplace by adding more than 1000 new customers in just the first few months.
By 1999-to-2000, Nestlé had so much confidence in Yumi’s performance in the Dallas–Fort Worth market that it asked the company to expand its distribution operations across much of Texas, including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and the surrounding areas.
Within a year, Yumi added 5000 new customers; a performance so impressive that Nestlé asked Yumi to train other distributors on their model.
Business owners from across the US and Europe traveled to Dallas for three day seminars, riding along with Yumi’s team to observe operations firsthand. Nestlé dubbed the program “Yumi University for Ice Cream,” and awarded Hoss an honorary doctorate for his contributions.
Diversification and new channels
As Yumi’s reputation grew, so did its opportunities. “We began building a presence within special events, including ten locations at the State Fair of Texas,” Hoss says. The company also launched a corporate Ice Cream Day program, bringing push carts to offices for monthly ice cream breaks. The concept quickly became a recurring event for many clients. Over time, Yumi expanded each route’s value by adding complementary brands alongside its core Nestlé offerings.
As the frozen food industry evolved, so did Yumi. After 2010, Yumi began winning national accounts with clients requiring products from multiple suppliers simultaneously, including Nestlé, Unilever, Blue Bunny, and M&M Mars. Managing such a broad inventory required a fundamental shift.
Yumi transitioned from its traditional pack-and-pedal model to a pre-order system, enabling the business to source products from multiple manufacturers. This shift significantly improved inventory accuracy, increased in-stock performance, and enhanced operational efficiency by separating the sales process from product deliveries. As a result, Yumi was able to provide consistent, dependable deliveries at scale, positioning the business to successfully service large national retailers. This was a significant operational upgrade and one of the reasons Yumi was able to continue growing and become one of the largest independent frozen distribution companies in Texas.
“My partner, Ali Khoshgowari, and I founded Yumi on a simple philosophy: family comes first, and great businesses are built on strong values,” Hoss shares. “Over the years, the Yumi family has strengthened that culture by building a leadership team that continues to play a vital role in our success. Even as we have grown, we have remained committed to the core principles that define who we are. Today, more than four hundred dedicated team members carry forward the excellence, integrity, and family spirit that have become the hallmark of Yumi. Together, they help ensure that our values remain at the heart of everything we do.”
Forty years of growth
Efficiency alone is not enough in a state as large as Texas. Yumi’s branch model ensures every region receives fast, reliable service and each branch functions as a self contained operation with its own support staff.
Four decades after its first ice cream truck rolled through Irving, Yumi has grown into a statewide leader in frozen food distribution. The company’s success is built on a relentless commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and the ability to recognize and seize new opportunities. Whether expanding through strategic acquisitions, investing in modern warehouse facilities, or developing innovative distribution programs, Yumi has consistently evolved to meet the changing needs of its customers. Today, with operations in some of Texas’ fastest‑growing markets, Yumi is well positioned for continued growth and future expansion.
Manel Bouzerita
